Since Mississippi State broke his first Razorback team’s heart with a 22-21 upset in 1998 in Starkville costing Arkansas an outright SEC West title and what would have been a SEC Championship rematch in Atlanta with eventual national champion Tennessee, Houston Nutt is 7-0 against the Bulldogs.

However, other than a 52-6 rout in Fayetteville in 2003 and last year’s 44-10 rout in Little Rock, Arkansas hasn’t had an easy victory over Mississippi State. Certainly not in Starkville where Nutt’s Razorbacks, 9-1, 6-0, will win the West outright if they can beat the Bulldogs, 3-7, 1-5, in Saturday’s 1: 30 p. m. nontelevised game at MSU’s Scott Field.

“ They always play us tough there, ” Nutt recalled of a 17-10 overtime victory in the sleet in 2000 and 26-19 and 24-21 escapes in ‘ 02 and ‘ 04. “ Always, always, always. ”

From the instant Arkansas ended its giddy 31-14 triumph over Tennessee before last Saturday’s packed house and ESPN “ College Game-Day” hoopla in luxurious Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Nutt has warned the Razorbacks to focus on the stark challenge awaiting them in Starkville.

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Just getting there (the Hogs stay over an hour away in Tupelo ) is a challenge.

“ It’s different, ” Nutt said, “ because it’s a little bit harder to get to, it’s a little bit farther drive. It’s a little bit smaller dressing room. Just a little bit of inconvenience, but you make it right. You make it work. The field is still 100 yards. The goal posts are still the same. All those things, the bottom line is football is football. ”

Football has been fun lately for the Razorbacks, winners of nine straight since losing the season opener to Southern California and now ranked fifth, sixth and seventh by the respective national AP and Coaches ’ polls and BCS standings.

“ The bottom line, ” Nutt said after Thursday’s practice, “ we’ve got to worry about our business. We’ve got to worry about our execution. Our defense, our offense. Everybody playing at their highest level. ”

Marcus Monk, by far Arkansas’ leading receiver, completed his second practice after missing Tuesday’s drills with bruised ribs. Reserve fullback Farod Jackson practiced Thursday despite an ailing ankle and may be able to assist Mitch Petrus and Ben Cleveland, the reserves now running 1-2 at fullback because starting fullback Peyton Hillis is out with a deep thigh bruise.

“ Farod Jackson got a little work today, ” Nutt said. “ That was good to see. We may try all three of them. We’ll just see how it’s going. ”

Cleveland, a tight end / receiver, moved to fullback this week because Hillis is out.

With postcards and such, Arkansas’ sports information department is launching a Darren McFadden Heisman Trophy campaign actually already launched the old fashioned way.

He’s earned it. McFadden’s 1, 219 rushing yards including back-to-back 219 and 189 yards rushing games on national TV against South Carolina and Tennessee that also featured the tailback at quarterback, has caught Heisman attention and officially Thursday earned him one of 10 semifinalist considerations for the Doak Walker Award. The Doak Walker Award is voted annually to the nation’s best college running back.

Meanwhile for defensively masterminding the 31-14 victory over Tennessee, Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring on Thursday was awarded the “ MCS Nike Game Ball” for national defensive coordinator of the week by Master Coaches Survey.